Past Activities :
(You can find the pictures in the Press room section.)
Henokiens General Meeting, October 2009 in Geneva
The members of the Henokiens Association met this year between the 29th of October and the 1st of November in Geneva for their annual General Meeting organized by the member firm, Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie.
The highlight of this meeting was the election of Christopher Viellard, from the member company Viellard Migeon & Cie, as the new President of the Henokiens for the next two years, beginning in 2010. Christophe Viellard said saw the Henokien companies "as living and vivacious historical monuments" and he intends "to promote this heritage in all countries where these companies are active".
Christophe Viellard succeeds Peter von Möller who completed two successive terms as President of the Henokiens Association from 2006 to 2009.
The meeting was also marked by the following facts :
A tribute was paid to the members who had died this year, Jean Hugel and Max Lemoine,
The introduction of the two companies which have joined the association this year : Thiercelin, a French company founded in 1809, specialised in natural aromatic plants and Monzino1750, an Italian company founded in 1750, musical instrument maker and music publisher,
The agreement of the members to organize a meeting between Henokiens companies and new family companies whose managers are currently preparing a MBA at the international business school, Insead,
The organization of the 2010 General Meeting of the Association by the member Augustea (probably next June), an Italian company founded in 1629, which is today an international shipping group whose main activity in the transport of dry freight such as coal, ferrous ores, grains and phosphates.
On the occasion of the General Meeting, the Henokiens members and their family were able to discover, for some, or to get to know better for others :
The famous Chopard jewellers, a Swiss family company which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2010,
Firmenich, a Swiss family company founded in 1895, today one of the three world leaders in the perfume and aromas business,
The Martin Bodmer Foundation. This "Library of World Literature" is a unique place bringing together the most essential written documents of humankind in the fields of literature, art, religion, science and politics,
The Philippe Pascoët chocolate house, designated as «Best Craftman » of the year 2006 by the city of Geneva and winner of « Best Chocolate Maker » prize of Geneva in 2008.
The Henokiens Italian members visit Barovier & Toso on May 23, 2009
As part of its activities, on May 23, 2009, the Italian section of the Association invited its members to visit the firm Barovier & Toso, located in Murano (Venice) where its historical headquarters, its museum and furnaces are still located.
This family company was founded in 1295 by Jacobello Barovier. One of the most famous and representative figures of the Barovier house is undoubtedly Angelo Barovier (1405-1460) who, as a glassmaker artist, made a vital contribution to the development of his art with the invention, among others, of the famous Venetian Crystal.
Today, the company, certainly one of the oldest family businesses in Europe, is managed by Jacopo Barovier (tenth generation, descendant of the founder). It offers a wide variety of artistic glass, sold worldwide for the general public as well as for lighting for public spaces, for large companies, hotels or cruise boats.
Henokiens General Meeting, October 2008 in Japan
Between 14 and 19 October, on the invitation of the member firm, Okaya, the members of the Henokiens Association met in Nagoya, Ise and Kyoto, Japan for their annual General Meeting.
At this Meeting, the following events and facts were of note :
The presence of the five Japanese members with, particularly, visits of 3 of them :
The visit of the Okaya headquarters and the meeting with members of the Okaya family,
The visit of the historical birth place of the Akafuku tea shop at Ise and the “Okage Yococho” shopping centre. This centre, created by the company in 1985, is located in front of the entrance of the Ise Shrine and has 42 shops presenting traditional Japanese craftsmanship,
The visit of the Gekkeikan Okura Sake museum, located at the Gekkeikan Sake Company headquarters in Kyoto.
The arrival within the Henokiens of a new member, the French company “La Maison Thiercelin”, specialised in aromatic and natural vegetal products, which will celebrate its 200 years of existence in 2009,
The announcement of the meeting place for the Annual General Meeting of 2009, which will be organised by the Swiss member, Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie, between 29 October and November 1st in Geneva,
The visit of the Toyota Motor plant in Nagoya and the presence at the Association's Gala dinner on October 16, of Mr. Shoichiro Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corp and his wife Mrs. Hiroko Toyoda,
The visit of Denso E & TS Training Centre in Nagoya where the company trains its future collaborators,
The visit of the famous Tokugawa Art Museum where masterpieces that belonged to the Tokugawa family are displayed,
The lecture on Japanese Economy and Culture and the possible evolution of the Geo-Economic landscape, given by Mr Haruo Shimada, President of Chiba University of Commerce.
The Henokiens at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
On the 9th of July 2008, the Henokiens visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
On this occasion, they met with Mr. Elmar Brok, European Parliament Deputy since 1980 and reporter of the Foreign Affairs Commission.
This meeting gave Mr. Brok the opportunity to discuss the question of the possibility of the enlargement of the European Union and to evoke with the members present the opportunities and the difficulties facing the European Union in the future.
October 2007, annual General Meeting in Belgium
On 19 October 2007, the members of the Henokiens Association, on the invitation of the member firm D’Ieteren, met in Brussels for their annual General Meeting.
At this Meeting, the following events and facts were of note:
Meeting with Mr. Günther Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry and with Mr. Patrick Adenauer, President of the German Association of Family Firms. These meetings bear witness to the increasing interest of institutions for family firms, which today are considered more and more as one of the keys to the economic and social future of Europe.
The desire of Henokiens President Peter von Möller to allow the new generation to express itself so that common work objectives within the association could be collaboratively defined.
The arrival of two new firms within the association: the Bank Jean-Philippe Hottinguer (a French firm whose origins date back to 1786) and the Dutch firm De Kuyper, founded in 1695, and specialised in the production of spirits.
The announcement of the meeting place for the Annual General Meeting of 2008, which will be organised between 14 and 19 October in Japan by the member firm, Okaya Estate & Co., Ltd.
The visit to the D’Ieteren Gallery, the private museum of the firm D’Ieteren, which houses a collection of some one hundred vehicles, assembled, imported or distributed by the firm D’Ieteren over more than a century.
The renewal of the term of office of President Peter von Möller and his Board composed of Mrs. Pina Amarelli, Mrs. Francesca Crespi (who is replacing Mr. Giovanni Aldinio Colbachini as President of the Italian section of the Association), Mr. Willem Van Eeghen and Mr. Michel Viellard.
The Henokiens visit the historic collection of Rubelli
On June 27, 2007 the members of the Henokiens association have taken advantage of their board meeting in Venice to visit the historic collection of Rubelli housed at Palacio Corner Spinelli, a prime example of a Venitian Renaissance house.
The firm Rubelli, founded in 1858 by Lorenzo Rubelli, is in many respects unique, given its capacity to produce hand-made fabrics using traditional techniques as well as highly sophisticated textiles of all kinds. Recognised as the number one company in its field in Italy, Rubelli is also considered one of the top 3 or 4 home furnishing fabric firms world-wide.
Rubelli’s fibres of choice are silk, linen, cotton and wool, sometimes used in combination with the richest man-made fibres such as Novafil, Bemberg and viscose, in ways that enhance the natural properties of both. For the contract market, Rubelli produces a full line of fire retardant fabrics in Trevira CS in which a “technical” cloth is converted to a beautiful textile through the medium of fine design.
The Rubelli historical archive is a collection of over 5000 textile records which can be dated from the end of the fifteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century. The collection was begun in the second half of the nineteenth century, as the company was being set up and at a time when Venice was undergoing a cultural and economic recovery aimed at reviving traditional crafts, fully in line with the eclectic and revivalist trend in Europe. The collection carefully conserves examples from original and historic Rubelli production, including the velvet made for the royal family in the early twentieth century and a number of fabrics produced through a creative partnership with famous artists, architects and designers. The fabrics in the Rubelli archive represent in fact matchless source of creative ideas for the new collections, also offering an excellent starting point for the creation of exclusive fabrics according to specific customer requirements.
February 2007 ; the Henokiens visited the Villeroy & Boch headquarters in Mettlach, Germany.
On February 1st and 2nd, 2007, the Henokiens visited the Villeroy & Boch headquarters in Mettlach, Germany. This 200 year-old family firm with a worldwide reputation has demonstrated remarkable talent in managing its heritage from the past with creativity and innovation in its various fields of activity: tableware, tiling and bathrooms. As Wendelin von Boch, CEO of the firm, explained to the Henokians: fundamental values and an ability to call itself into question have enabled the firm to confront the challenges of globalisation while developing its position in new market niches.
October 2006, annual meeting in Italy
In the middle of next October, the association organized its annual meeting in Florence (Italy), replying to Franco Torrini's invitation, owner of the Florentine company Torrini, founded in 1369, whose jewellery store is set in the historical center of the city, Piazza Duomo.
Peter von Möller in Japan
On November 7, 2006, the four Japanese members of association, the Akafuku company, Gekkeikan, Hoshi and Okaya met in Nagoya in the presence of the President of the Henokiens, Peter von Möller (Möller Group) and Ivan Pictet of the Pictet company & Co.
Association’s general meeting
8 to September 11, 2005: was organized by the company member J.D. Neuhaus, the general assembly of association and celebration of the 260ème anniversary of the company.
IMD (International Institute for Management Development) has made
a research on the company Beretta
After nearly five centuries in business, the Beretta family's gun making enterprise stands at an important threshold. The family and its hometown
have provided the cultural and philosophical underpinnings that have seen the company through good times and bad. Now, the firm must address a more insidious challenge : how to continue to grow and adapt to new market and competitive situations while retaining the core that brought the company to where it is today.The role of corporate culture is juxtaposed with stability in the face of change, dedication to craftsmanship and the latest technology, close-knit family bonds and an ardor for individualism.
The
exercise of seemingly contradictory business concepts and approaches is
examined.
This case study is available on request. For those who wish to obtain inspection copies for personal review : CaseAdmin@imd.ch For those who wish to purchase the case for use in a classroom : Tel : +44 (0)1234 750903 Fax : +44 (0)1234 751125 e-mail : ecch@ecch.com Internet : www.ecch.com
27 May 2005 - Exposed on association
Participation of Free Torrini, Pésident of the Italian section of Hénokiens to the conference internationnale of Group ING, May 27, 2005 in Sarteano, for a talk on association.
April 2005 : the internationally famous business school
In April 2005, the Henokiens Association was organise, in collaboration with the internationally famous business school, Insead, in Fontainebleau (France), a day of conferences:
-Presentation of an Insead case study on the German firm, Möller Group, a member of the Henokiens Association,
-Group work by the members of the association on the themes of inheriting family wealth, managerial succession and fair decision making processes in familial firms.
In March 2005, the association will participate in the events organised by the Belgian family firm, D'Ieteren, a group of international dimensions present in 120 countries, on the occasion of the celebration of its 200th anniversary.
2004 General Meeting at Nardini in Bassano del Grappa (Italy)
In mid-September 2004, between the 16th and the 19th, the Henokiens were brought together for the Annual Meeting by the firm Nardini in Bassano del Grappa, near Venice. The association members had the pleasure of discovering a city famous for its artists, painters and sculptors, its ceramics and, of course, its brandy, which could only be called Grappa. Known world-wide, the Grappa of the firm Nardini, which dates back to 1779, has become a true historical curiosity. The phenomenon has taken on such magnitude that the firm decided, several years ago, to build on its site a structure that would allow welcoming the thousands of people who visit this site and showing them how to make and to appreciate Grappa. The futurist building was designed and built between 2002 and 2004 by the famous architect Massimiliano Fuksas. In an atmosphere of comfort and well-being that the ultra-modern equipment provides, the visitor is astonished by what he sees, by the extraordinary presence of natural light and the quality of the materials used. The building was also designed to house the company’s laboratory and research centre. The Nardini Centre, which will be open to the public by Spring 2005, represents an excellent example of what constitutes the strength of two hundred year old family firms: not to hesitate investing in the future before emphasising the heritage of the past.
Meeting with the European Union and Conference in Brussels
On March 25, 2004, the Henokiens Association for the first time, came to Belgium, a country where it does not have any members, to make itself known and to transmit its various messages on the interest and the value of family companies.
The Henokiens, initially, met Mr. Gwenole Cozigou, chief of staff of Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprises and the Information Society. During this working session, they sought to know if, in the European institution’s views, family companies could contribute to making Europe the world’s most competitive and dynamic economic zone. In addition, the Henokiens asked what kind of initiatives, incentives and information were considered by European Union to encourage Europeans to found their own family company and if specific measures were envisaged, to promote the growth and the transmission of family companies. On the other hand, the Henokiens asked Mr Cozigou if some means were being considered by the European Union to develop the entrepreneurial spirit. They also asked up to what point the European Union could contribute to the development a "Route of the European Historical Companies" knowing that a first circuit exists now on the Internet site of the Association and that the Henokiens would like to extend it to many other family companies established in EU Member States.
Another event on that day: the Henokiens were invited by the banking group ING to give a conference to 130 Belgian family companies on the topic of the continuity of family control in companies. Pina Amarelli, President of the Henokiens, gave a remarkable talk on the values which brought the different members together and on the actions carried out by the Association to transmit and promote its message. Emmanuel Viellard, from Viellard Migeon & Compagnie, whose creation dates back to 1679, gave an appreciated account of the company history and its governing rules. He also explained the kind of decisions which have been taken over the years to allow the company to continue its development in line with its market needs, while preserving its identity and the family control.
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